Wine Regions (AVAs) of Sonoma County

Sonoma County, California, stretches from the Pacific Coast in the west to the Mayacamas Mountains in the east. Almost 60,000 acres of vineyards and more than 425 wineries fall within the borders of 18 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), or appellations, each with its own distinctive characteristics. Located on the northern edge of the greater San Francisco Bay Area, Sonoma County is the largest wine producer in Northern California. Our wines have won countless national and international wine awards – come see why. Learn more about Sonoma County’s wine regions here.

Trip Ideas

From Alicante to Zinfandel, with both Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon in between, the Sonoma Valley encompasses perhaps the widest range of wine grapes, the most dramatic contrasts of terrain, and...

It's fitting that the Russian River Valley appellation lies at the geographical heart of Sonoma County. This is where some of wine country's best known and most beloved varietals really earned their...

Named after an enterprising pioneer by the name of Cyrus Alexander, the Alexander Valley was considered a better place to grow wheat and raise cattle before it gained fame for its grapes. In the 1880s...

The Sonoma Coast American Viticulture Area (known as an AVA or appellation) may be Sonoma County's most enigmatic wine region. From the wild, wind-swept northern coast to the gently rolling hills of...

Newly designated in 2018, the Petaluma Gap is among the growing number of appellations to earn American Viticultural Area (AVA) status based more on climate and topography than 'political boundaries'...

One of Sonoma County's newest and most distinctive American viticultural areas is located in the coastal hills above Fort Ross State Historic Park and overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Fort Ross-Seaview...

Basking in the sun like a lizard on a rock, Sonoma County's Rockpile AVA is perched high above Dry Creek Valley. A suitably wild and rugged source for some of Sonoma County's brawniest Zinfandel wines...

No wonder the founder of Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards & Winery famously discovered his property while flying a small plane over it-the Chalk Hill area is easy to miss. Starting in Windsor, take a drive...